Ring puzzle games

ABSTRACT

Novel ring puzzles containing a plurality of rings supported on at least one elongated loop are provided, where at least one ring of the plurality of rings is connected to more than one adjacent ring in its front, at least one of the plurality of the rings has a diameter different than that of the other of the plurality of rings, or the elongated loop includes at least two elongated loops arranged in parallel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 63/238,179 filed Aug. 29, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates generally to ring puzzles, a type of puzzles that have hundreds or perhaps even thousands of years of history. Various designs of ring puzzles based on similar operating principles have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,133,061; 1,589,305; 2,998,253; and 3,198,524 and many non-US patents. Essentially, each of these puzzles comprises a number of individual rings, each of which is articulately loosely connected to one end of a short post, all of the posts in turn being loosely anchored at their other ends in a common base member. An elongated, closed loop (or bar) straddles the posts and passes through the rings in a uniform manner. To solve the puzzle, that is, to remove the loop from the rings, requires a very lengthy series, depending upon the number of rings involved, of precise steps. Likewise, to put the rings back on the loop afterwards requires the entire procedure be repeated but in reverse.

Despite their age and fascination, ring puzzles have not become widely enjoyed. Perhaps one of the reasons is that once the solution to a ring puzzle is learned and mastered, solving the puzzle is reduced to applying a precise recursive procedure which is tedious and time consuming. Unlike many other puzzle games where numerous configurations of the puzzle are possible, each of which require different procedure to solve and thus pose a new challenge for the player, the rather “linear” design of the ring puzzles makes the ring puzzles less exciting once the tricks have been learned. Thus, one object of this invention is to provide variations of the traditional ring puzzle games to increase the challenge and intrigue.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure generally provides a ring puzzle game, which includes: a plurality of circular rings, a plurality of posts, each having an eyelet on its upper end to encircle a ring of the plurality of rings and a lower end connected to a blocking element, at least one elongated closed loop, a base member having a plurality of holes, each passed by one of the plurality of posts at its lower end, the size of the holes is smaller than the blocking element. Each of the plurality of rings is held in place by being enclosed within the eyelet of a corresponding post of the plurality of posts, wherein each of the plurality of rings, except the frontmost ring, is connected to at least one adjacent ring through a post holding the at least one adjacent ring, and wherein the at least one elongated loop being insertable and removable from an interlocking position with the rings and pots by a series of prescribed manipulations of the rings, posts, and the at least one elongated loop. Also, at least one of the following conditions is true: at least one ring of the plurality of rings is connected to more than one adjacent ring in its front; at least one of the plurality of the rings has a diameter different than that of the other of the plurality of rings; the at least one elongated loop includes at least two elongated loops arranged in parallel.

In certain embodiments, some of the plurality of rings are each connected to a group of two adjacent rings of the plurality of rings in its immediate front.

In certain embodiments, some of the plurality of rings are each connected to a group of three adjacent rings of the plurality of rings in its immediate front.

In certain embodiments, a first of the plurality of rings is connected to a group of two adjacent rings in its immediate front, and wherein a second of the plurality of rings is connected to a group of three adjacent rings in its immediate front.

In certain embodiments, the at least one elongated loop includes at least two elongated loops arranged in parallel and a vertically stacked configuration, and one or more of the plurality of rings are supported by both of the two elongated loops, while one or more of the plurality of rings are supported only one of the elongated rings.

In certain embodiments, at least one of the plurality of the rings has a diameter smaller than each of the remainder of the plurality of rings. In some of these embodiments, each of the remainder of the plurality of rings has a same diameter. In some of these embodiments, the ring having a smaller diameter is one of a group of two or more adjacent rings to which a rear ring is connected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the invention with become more apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a prior art ring puzzle;

FIG. 2 depicts a first variation of a ring puzzle of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 depicts a second variation of a ring puzzle of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 depicts a third variation of a ring puzzle of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

General structure of ring puzzle games is illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1-4 herein, wherein FIG. 1 depict a prior art ring puzzle and FIGS. 2-4 depicts embodiments of the present invention. Certain common features of the ring puzzles are shown and like reference numerals in the figures refer to like elements. Referring to FIG. 1 , the wand-like elongated loop member designated by numeral 1, passes through each of the rings R1 through R9. Rings R1 through R9 are supported by a like number of posts, P1 through P9, each of which is slidably coupled with the corresponding ring at the top with an eyelet 14, and anchored through holes 4 on the underside base 20. At the bottom of each post is connected with a blocking element 12 having a dimension larger than the hole 4 so that the posts cannot be removed from the base member 20.

As shown in FIG. 1 , in the prior art ring puzzle shown, each ring is of a rigid circular structure (e.g., made of a meal or hard plastic) and is of approximately the same diameter as other rings, so that none of the rings can go through from the inside of another ring. Also, a post connected to a ring passes the next ring and only the next ring. For example, post P1 (connecting ring R1) passes through from the inside of the R2, and post P2 passes through the inside of ring R3, and so on. For convenience, in this disclosure, a ring having a smaller number is deemed to be in the “front” and a ring having a larger number is deemed to be in the “rear”, for example, ring R1 is in (immediate) front of ring R2, ring R2 is in (immediate) front of ring R3, and so on. This connection arrangement is also annotated as shown in the following table:

Ring Number 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Connected to rings 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 None in front

The object of the ring puzzle game shown in FIG. 1 (and generally all ring puzzle games) is to remove all of the rings from the loop. Due to the interconnected arrangement of these rings and posts and their positioning on the loop, the procedure required is rather elaborate. In particular, at any time, the first ring, or the first and second ring together, can be taken down or up the loop, and for other rings, only one ring next to the frontmost ring that is on the loop can be taken down or up the loop. Due to such constraint, the following sequential procedure can be used to solve the puzzle:

1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 5D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4D, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 7D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4U, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 5U, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4D, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 6D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4U, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 5D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4D, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 9D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4U, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 5U, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4D, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 6U, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4U, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 5D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4D, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 7U, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4U, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 5U, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4D, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 6D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4U, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 5D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4D, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 8D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4U, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 5U, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4D, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 6U, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4U, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 5D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4D, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 7D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4U, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 5U, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4D, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 6D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4U, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D, 5D, 1/2U, 1D, 3U, 1U, 1/2D, 4D, 1/2U, 1D, 3D, 1U, 1/2D.

In the above procedure, the numerals refer to the ring numbers, “U” stands for “Up”, meaning to put the ring up to be supported by the loop, and “D” stands for “Down”, meaning to slide the referenced ring or rings from the right end of the loop, turn the face of the rings parallel to the posts connecting them, and drop them through the gap of the loop. 1/2D means rings R1 and R2 are taken down together, and 1/2U means rings R1 and R2 are put up through the loop together and on the loop. To put the rings back up the loop, the complete reverse procedure of the above can be used.

The present invention provides a number of variations on the traditional ring puzzle shown and described in connection with FIG. 1 . The respective structures of these inventive embodiments are shown in FIGS. 2-4 , respectively. While the structure of the elements such as the post, rings, eyelets, holes, blocking elements and underside base are similar to those of the prior art as shown in FIG. 1 , the relative size (or diameter) of the rings within the set of rings, the connection patterns and engagement of the set of rings with the loop(s) in these variations are different from the prior art. The following table provides a comparison between the prior art ring puzzle shown in FIG. 1 and these embodiments of the present invention in terms of ring size, connection patterns, and their engagement with the loop(s). It is understood that a ring puzzle is not limited to have 9 rings, but can have any number of rings with associated posts.

Original/Prior art Ring Number R9 R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 Connected to R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 None rings in front Loop: single loop passing through all rings Ring size: same ring size for rings 1-9 Embodiment 1 Ring Number R9 R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 Connected to R8, R7 R7, R6 R6, R5 R5, R4 R4, R3 R3, R2 R2, R1 R1 None rings in front Loop: single loop passing through all rings Same ring size for 1-9 Embodiment 2 Ring Number R9 R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 Connected to R8, R7, R6 R7 R6, R5 R5, R4, R3 R4, R3 R3, R2 R2 R1 None rings in front Loop: single loop passing through all rings Ring size: #8 is smaller in diameter than the remaining rings; #9, #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, #1 rings are all of the same size. Embodiment 3 Ring Number R9 R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 Connected to R8, R7, R6 R7 R6, R5 R5, R4, R3 R4, R3 R3, R2 R2 R1 None rings in front Loop on which a, b a a a, b a, b a a a a, b the ring is supported Ring size: #8 is smaller in diameter than the remaining rings; #9, #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, #1 rings are all of the same size.

-   Embodiment 1: Illustrated in FIG. 2 , this design includes rings     R3-R9 each connected to two rings in front of it (R2 is connected to     R1 only like the prior art ring shown in FIG. 1 , R3 is connected to     both R1 and R2 (the posts connecting R1 and R2 both traverse R3), R4     is connected to both R3 and R2, and so on).

To solve this puzzle, the following sequence of steps can be performed: 1/2/3D, 6D, 1/2/3U, 1/2D, 5D, 1/2U, 1D, 4D, 1U, 1/2/3D, 9D, 1/2/3U, 1D, 4U, 1U, 1/2D, 5U, 1/2U, 1/2/3D, 6U, 1/2/3U, 1/2D, 5D, 1/2U, 1D, 4D, 1U, 1/2/3D, 8D, 1/2/3U, 1D, 4U, 1U, 1/2D, 5U, 1/2U, 1D, 4D, 1U, 1/2/3D, 7D, 1/2/3U, 1D, 4U, 1U, 1/2/3D, 6D, 1/2/3U, 1/2D, 5D, 1/2U, 1D, 4D, 1U, 1/2/3D.

Notations used in the above procedure: numerals 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9—Ring numbers (R1-R9); numerals in the format of #/#(/#)—the referenced multiple rings (by ring number) are moved together through the loop (up or down); U—Up, put the ring up the loop; D—Down, take down the ring from the loop.

-   Embodiment 2: Illustrated in FIG. 3 , this design includes rings     that connect to different number of rings in their front, and also     include a ring having a diameter smaller than other rings such that     it can pass through the inside of the other rings.

To solve this puzzle, the following procedure can be used: 1/2D, 5/6D, 1/2U, 1D, 3/4D, 1U, 1/2D, 8D, 1/2U, 1D, 3/4U, 1U, 1/2D, 5/6U, 5D, 1/2U, 1D, 3/4D, 1U, 1/2D, 9D, 1/2U, 1D, 3/4U, 1U, 1/2D, 5U, 1/2U, 1D, 3/4D, 1U, 1/2D, 7D, 1/2U, 1D, 3/4U, 1U, 1/2D, 5/6D, 1/2U, 1D, 3/4D, 1U, 1/2D. Note in this puzzle, ring 8 needs to be taken down before ring 9.

Notations used in the above procedure: numerals 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9—Ring numbers (R1-R9); numerals in the format of #/#(/#)—the referenced multiple rings (by ring number) are moved together through the loop (up or down); U—Up, put the ring up to the loop; D—Down, take down the ring from the loop.

-   Embodiment 3: As illustrated in FIG. 4 , this design includes two     elongated parallel loops (a and b) arranged in a vertically stacked     configuration (such that a single post is straddled by both loops)     where some rings are initially supported on only one of the loops     whereas other rings are supported by both loops, rings that connect     to different number of rings in their front, and a ring having a     diameter smaller than other rings (such that it can pass through the     inside of the other rings).

To solve this puzzle, the following procedure can be used: ring 8 needs to be taken down before ring 9. Solution: 1DaDb, 3/4Ub, 1Ub, 1/2Db, 5/6DaUb, 1/2UbUa, 1DaDb, 3/4DaDb, 1UbUa, 1/2DaDb, 8Da(through b), 7Ub, 1/2UbUa, 1DaDb, 3/4UbUa, 1UbUa, 1/2DaDb, 5/6Db, 5/6UbUa, 5DaDb, 1/2UbUa, 1DaDb, 3/4DaDb, 1UbUa, 1/2DaDb, 9DaDb, 1/2UbUa, 1DaDb, 3/4UbUa, 1UbUa, 1/2DaDb, 5UbUa, 1/2UbUa, 1DaDb, 3/4DaDb, 1UbUa, 1/2DaDb, 7DaDb, 1/2UbUa, 1DaDb, 3/4UbUa, 1UbUa, 1/2DaDb, 5/6DaDb, 1/2UbUa, 1DaDb, 3/4DaDb, 1UbUa, 1/2DaDb.

Notations used in the above procedure: numerals 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9—Ring numbers (R1-R9); numerals in the format of #/#(/#)—the referenced multiple rings (by ring number) are moved together through the loop (up or down); U—Up, put the ring up to the loop; D—Down, take down the ring from the loop; a—loop a; b—loop b.

While specific embodiments of the inventions have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that various modifications or adaptations may be made from the specific details described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and therefore these modifications or adaptations also fall within in the spirit and scope of this invention, which is as least as broad as encompassed by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A ring puzzle game comprising: a plurality of circular rings, a plurality of posts, each having an eyelet on its upper end to encircle a ring of the plurality of rings and a lower end connected to a blocking element, at least one elongated closed loop, a base member having a plurality of holes, each passed by one of the plurality of posts at its lower end, the size of the holes is smaller than the blocking element; wherein each of the plurality of rings is held in place by being enclosed within the eyelet of a corresponding post of the plurality of posts, wherein each of the plurality of rings, except the frontmost ring, is connected to at least one adjacent ring through a post holding the at least one adjacent ring, and wherein the at least one elongated loop being insertable and removable from an interlocking position with the rings and pots by a series of prescribed manipulations of the rings, posts, and the at least one elongated loop; and wherein at least one of the following conditions is true: (a) at least one ring of the plurality of rings is connected to more than one adjacent ring in its front; (b) at least one of the plurality of the rings has a diameter different than that of the other of the plurality of rings; (c) the at least one elongated loop includes at least two elongated loops arranged in parallel.
 2. The ring puzzle game of claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of rings are each connected to a group of two adjacent rings of the plurality of rings in its immediate front.
 3. The ring puzzle game of claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of rings are each connected to a group of three adjacent rings of the plurality of rings in its immediate front.
 4. The ring puzzle game of claim 1, wherein a first of the plurality of rings is connected to a group of two adjacent rings in its immediate front, and wherein a second of the plurality of rings is connected to a group of three adjacent rings in its immediate front.
 5. The ring puzzle game of claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated loop includes at least two elongated loops arranged in parallel and a vertically stacked configuration, and one or more of the plurality of rings are supported by both of the two elongated loops, while one or more of the plurality of rings are supported only one of the elongated rings.
 6. The ring puzzle game of any of claims 2-5, wherein at least one of the plurality of the rings has a diameter smaller than each of the remainder of the plurality of rings.
 7. The ring puzzle game of claim 6, wherein each of the remainder of the plurality of rings has a same diameter.
 8. The ring puzzle game of claim 6, wherein the ring having a smaller diameter is one of a group of two or more adjacent rings to which a rear ring is connected. 